Topeka ? With the first winter snowstorm headed to the area, State Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger of Lawrence on Wednesday urged motorists to use caution.

“Don’t travel unless you absolutely have to. But if you do go out, slow down. Allowing extra travel time and paying careful attention to driving conditions will help improve the safety of all Kansans,” she said.

Praeger urged Kansans to keep an auto accident checklist in the glovebox of their vehicles to remind them what they need to do in case they are involved in an accident.

She said the following accident checklist should expedite an insurance claim.

• Stop your car in a safe place. Turn off the ignition and check for injuries to yourself or those in your vehicle. Do not move an injured person.
• Call police or emergency personnel immediately, advising them of your location and any injuries.
• Get the name, address, phone number and driver’s license number of the driver of the other vehicle. If the driver and owner of the vehicle are different, obtain the owner’s name, address, tag or registration number and name of their insurance company.
• Write down the time, date, location, road conditions and model and year of the vehicles involved in the accident. Jot down your version of what happened, noting damages and injuries. If possible, keep a disposable camera in your car to take photos of the damages.
• If there are witnesses, write down their names and phone numbers. Also get the names of police at the scene and ask them how to get a copy of their police report for the insurance claim.
• If another driver offers you money at the scene, don’t take it. You may forfeit your right to file a claim.
• Notify your insurance agent or company as soon as possible.
• If you have any questions about an accident or your auto insurance, contact the Kansas Department of Insurance at 1-800-432-2484, or on the Internet at www.ksinsurance.org.

¢ For the latest forecast, go to weather.lawrence.com and tune in at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. to Sunflower Broadband Channel 6.